Bill Storer

Bill Storer
Personal information
Full name William Storer
Born 25 January 1867(1867-01-25)
Ripley, Derbyshire, England
Died 28 February 1912(1912-02-28) (aged 45)
Derby, England
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Leg-break
Role Wicket-keeper batsman
Relations Harry Storer
Test debut 13 December 1897 v Australia
Last Test 1 June 1899 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years Team
18871905 Derbyshire
1893-1904 MCC
First-class debut 9 June 1887 Derbyshire v Lancashire
Last First-class 22 June 1905 Derbyshire v Surrey
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 6 289
Runs scored 215 12966
Batting average 19.54 28.87
100s/50s -/1 17/63
Top score 51 216*
Balls bowled 168 11422
Wickets 2 232
Bowling average 54.00 33.89
5 wickets in innings - 4
10 wickets in match - -
Best bowling 1/24 5/20
Catches/stumpings 11/- 376/55
Source: [1], 30 April 2010

William ("Bill") Storer (25 January 1867 - 28 February 1912) was an English footballer and a cricketer who played six Tests from 1897 to 1899, played first class cricket for Derbyshire from 1887 to 1905 and played football for Derby County. He scored nearly 13,000 runs for Derbyshire and achieved over 430 dismissals from behind the stumps.

Storer was born at Ripley, Derbyshire, the son of John Storer, an engine smith, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1881 the family were living at Butterley Hill and he was a turner's apprentice.[1]

Storer was a specialist wicket keeper who was reputed to be the first to stand up to the wicket against fast bowlers. He was also a highly skilled batsman at a time when wicket-keeper batsmen were rare and twice averaged over fifty in a season. His first-class record of 216 not out came against Leicestershire in the 1899 season and he was the first professional to score two hundreds, against a strong Yorkshire side, in a match. He was also a competent leg spinner, taking 232 first class wickets at 33.89. Storer also appeared for London County.[2]

Storer toured Australia for England, making his debut in the 1897 Test at Sydney and played against the tourists at home, his last Test coming at Trent Bridge in 1899 when he was also named a Wisden cricketer of the year. His Test appearances were limited by the selectors preference for Dick Lilley.

Storer died in Derby at the age of 45. His brother Harry Storer also played cricket for Derbyshire and football for Derby County.

See also

References

  1. ^ British Census 1881
  2. ^ Bill Storer at Cricket Archive